Atomizer



March `25, 1941. A RElLLY ATOMIZER Filed May 25, 1940 Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Massachusetts Evans Case Company, a corporation of Application May 23, 1940, Serial No. 336,847

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an atomizer in which there is a receptacle containing a liquid to be atomized provided with an opening which is above the normal level of the liquid.

In such devices when the atomizer is inverted or turned the liquid may run out of its receptacle and possibly into some other portion of the apparatus. The purpose of the present invention is to provide means for preventing this exit of the liquid. To this end means are provided which tend to automatically close the outlet from the liquid chamber when the apparatus is inverted or moved from its normal operating position.

The locking device of the present invention may be applied to atomizers of many dilierent forms and types. In order to disclose the invention but not as a limitation on the invention one form of apparatus to which it may be applied is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of one specic type of atomizer in normal position; Fig. 2 is a similar transverse, fragmentary vertical .section in the inverted position.

The liquid chamber I0 is shown as provided with a pipe II entering its upper end. The pipe II communicates at I2 with a bellows I3 or other means for supplying air under pressure so that in the normal position air under pressure may be placed upon the top of the liquid in the tank I0. From the liquid chamber I0 and extending upwardly through the air tube I I and preferably centrally disposed therein is a liquid pipe I4 through which liquid may be withdrawn and atomized. Surrounding and carried by the end of the tube I4 in the liquid chamber is a plug I5. The lower end IE of the liquid pipe I4 is spread or splayed so as to limit the downward movement of the plug I5 as illustrated in Fig. 1 In its normal position the plug I5 rests against the splayed end I6 and is further from contact with the lower end of the air pipe I I. There may be a washer I'I or other contact device on the upper end of the plug I5. The plug I5 may be made relatively heavy and is free to slide on the pipe I4 so that when the device is inverted as illustrated in Fig. 2 the plug I5 will ride on the tube I4 and bring the washer I1 in contact with the lower end of the air pipe II and thus form a seal to prevent the passage of liquid from the liquid chamber I0 into the air pipe II. Small atomizers are frequently abused or roughly handled. They are frequently packed in bags for travel and the like. The present device provides a means by which gravity alone may automatically cause the lock I5 to seal the liquid chamber against outlet 0f liquid. It will be understood, of course, that the liquid pipe I4, as is usual in atomizers, is so small that there will be substantially no leakage of liquid through it.

The proportions, sizes, shapes and other details of the apparatus illustrated are not essential to the present invention which may be embodied in other types of apparatus.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an atomizer having a liquid chamber with an opening for the inlet of air under pressure and a liquid outlet tube passing through the opening, a plug guided on the tube for closing the opening.

2. In an atomizer having a liquid chamber with an opening for the inlet of air under pressure and a liquid outlet tube passing through the opening, a plug surrounding the tube and slidable thereon for closing the opening.

3. In an atomizer having a liquid chamber with an opening for the inlet of air under pressure and a liquid outlet tube passing through the opening, means for automatically preventing liquid `going out through the opening when the device is inverted.

4. In an atomizer having a liquid chamber with an opening for the inlet of air under pressure and a liquid outlet tube passing through the opening, means operated by gravity for closing the opening when the device is inverted.

5. In an atomizer having a liquid chamber with an opening for the inlet of air under pressure and a liquid outlet tube passing through `the opening, a plug surrounding the tube and slidable v thereon by gravity when the device is inverted for closing the opening.

6. In an atomizer having a liquid chamber with an opening for the inlet of air under pressure and a tube passing through the opening, a plug guided on the tube for closing the opening.

'7. In an atomizer having a liquid chamber with an ope-ning for the inlet of air under pressure and a tube passing through the opening, a plug surrounding the tube and slidable thereon for closing the opening.

8. In an atomizer having a liquid chamber with an opening for the inlet of air under pressure and a tube for the outlet of liquid passing through the opening, a plug slidably supported by the tube for closing the opening.

ALFRED F. REILLY. 

